Western Fannichs

Start point heading to Loch a' Bhraoin

Around 12km south of Ullapool, the A832 branches off the main A835 at Braemore junction. This road climbs over moorland and drops to Dundonnell at the southern tip of Little Loch Broom and continues on toward Gairloch.

Around 6km west of Braemore Junction, the A832 sweeps past some forestry, turns north-west and climbs uphill. By the end of the last patch of forestry is the head of an estate track, just west of which is a parking area with room for around 10 vehicles. There is more parking further up the road.

Bridge over Abhainn Cuileig

From the parking area, head to the top of the estate track, which is gated and beside which is a right-of-way sign pointing to Loch a' Bhraoin.

With forestry on your left (east), follow this track until it comes to a turning circle with a gate . There are two narrower tracks heading off in opposite directions, take the one on the left and head into woodland. The track crosses a hydro road, comes out of the woodland and arrives at the head of Loch a' Bhraoin by a bridge over the Abhainn Cuileig.

Cross the bridge and hike southwards on a soggy and rough path. The path swings left , at which point leave it and aim directly uphill on wet soggy ground, tracing the signs of a faint trod.

Ground begins to rise more steeply with the path beginning to twist and turn as it avoids crags while climbing up the nose of Leitir Fhearna. There is a little easy scrambling higher up with some vantage points for photo opportunities.

Reaching the top of Leitir Fhearna, a small cairn is met from where the path, now very faint, heads south-west over a grass-covered broad crest for around 1km. The path becomes more obvious as it turns southwards, climbing gently aiming while aiming for boulderfield ahead.

As the path nears the boulderfield , instead of keeping to the crest, it surprisingly begins to contour on the west side of Druim Reidh above Toll an Lochan. Keep on this path, which travels to Bealach Toll an Lochain between A'Chailleach and Toman Coinich, hitting a rough and bouldery section as it nears the col.

From the bealach, a path follows a line of fence-posts as it continues up the crest of A' Chailleach's eastern shoulder. Just to the south of the crest, an easier line on softer ground keeps out of any prevailing westerly winds.

Heading up Leitir Fhearna, Meall an t-Sithe behind

Heading up Leitir Fhearna, Meall an t-Sithe behind

Toman Coinnich and Sgurr Breac from A' Chailleach

Retrace your steps back down to Bealach Toll an Lochain , from where you'll see a path heading directly up the minor summit of Toman Coinnich ahead. You can opt to head up and over this to reach the next bealach, Bealach a' Choire Bhric , though it's actually more direct to contour around Toman Coinnich on its southern face. In mist, compass work might be needed as there are no paths to follow on the contour route !

Sgurr Bhreac from Toman Choinnich

Sgurr Bhreac from Toman Choinnich

Sgurr nan Each from the wall on Sgurr Bhreac

If wanting just to bag A' Chailleach and Sgurr Breac, you could about-turn, re-trace your steps to Bealach a' Choire Bhric , head up Toman Coinnich , then follow the crest of Druim Reidh to return via the route taken up.

To continue onward to Sgurr nan Each, follow the path eastwards on Sgurr Breac's summit plateau. Beware, particularly in mist, the path turns north-east, to lead to the top of steep ground, then follows the top of this south-east before turning eastwards. A more direct route may be advisable, taking a bearing eastwards from Sgurr Breac's summit cairn to begin to lose height on grassy slopes.

Both these routes merge and now on Sgurr Breac's eastern shoulder, follow the obvious path to cross the faint remains of a wall. The path sticks to the crest of the Sgurr Breac's eastern shoulder as it swings south-east, then turns eastwards for a final bit of descent to reach a bealach at 548m.

Another path crosses the bealach north-to-south - should you wish to call it a day at this point, a direct return to the head of Loch a' Bhraoin can be made from here.

To continue towards Sgurr nan Each, from the bealach head eastwards and begin climbing up grassy slopes - there are some burns in which to refresh water-bottles on route. Above and ahead there is a line of faint crags - head to near the right end of this, its straightforward and fairly easy to negotiate.

Higher up Cadha na Guite - the bealach between Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each - is reached on which a path follows the crest line southwards. Follow this path as it sticks close to the edge of Coire Mor with crags falling eastwards.

On the final approach to the summit, a direct line slightly to the west of the path takes a route over softer ground, therefore avoiding rocky loose terrain.

Sgurr nan Each's summit, looking south

Sgurr nan Each's summit, looking south

On Sgurr nan Each's summit, Sgurr nan Clach Geala ahead

Re-trace your steps back to Cada na Guite , from where the the ascent ahead up Sgurr nan Clach Geala's southern shoulder appears quite immense. The climb up this is much easier and less daunting than expected !

From the bealach, simply follow the well-worn and obvious path uphill. The climb is continuous and just shy of 300m and levels out by some rocks on a flat shoulder, south-east of Sgurr nan Clach Geala's summit.

Approaching Sgurr nan Clach Geala's summit from the south-east

Approaching Sgurr nan Clach Geala's summit from the south-east

On way to Meall a' Chrasgaidh

If windy or wet, the descent down Sgurr nan Clach Geala requires a bit of care !

From Sgurr nan Clach Geala's summit, follow the path on the crest above Eagan Tuill Bhig as it turns north-eastwards. There are a couple of slabby bits that may be slippy if wet and it may be advisable to keep a distance from the coire's edge if windy.

After losing height of around 100m, leave the edge and aim due north encountering a few patches of boulderfield. A faint path can be traced passing the western side of a lochan before meeting a large erratic boulder (a fine spot for a lunch stop). The route then crosses a damp bealach , where stepping stones can be found to hop over the wettest sections.

Beyond the bealach the path becomes more obvious as it climbs up the southern slopes of Meall a' Chrasgaidh, though it does seem to try to hug the top of the coire above Loch a' Mhadaidh and I found it easier to aim more direct for the hill's summit.

Looking back to Sgurr nan Clach Geala from Meall a' Chrasgaidh's summit

Looking back to Sgurr nan Clach Geala from Meall a' Chrasgaidh's summit

Looking to An Teallach from Meall a' Chrasgaidh's summit

Leaving Meall a' Chrasgaidh's cairn behind, aim north-west over the stony ground and boulderfield on its crest. A line of grassy ground is crossed, after which more stony terrain is descended on, though much easier than that on the crest.

Gradually turning westwards, some steeper ground is dropped on and the hillside becomes grass covered for the remainder of descent.

The path heading down from the bealach between Sgurr Breac and Sgurr nan Each is met and followed down to a ford on the Allt Breabag. In most conditions this should be easily crossed. However, if it is in spate, instead keep to the eastern bank of the river and follow a faint path through heather to a rickety old bridge further downstream.

Once the Allt Breabag has been crossed, the bridge over the Abhainn Cuileig is met for a return back to the roadside.

Heading to Sgurr Mor from Meall a' Chrasgaidh

This route can be extended towards Sgurr Mor and onwards to bag all the 9 Munros in the Fannichs, giving a total ascent of 2900m (9,500ft) over a distance of 35km (22m), with an estimated time of 13:30hr.

From Meall a' Chrasgaidh's cairn about-turn and return towards the bealach , then make a fairly direct route towards Carn na Criche , picking up a faint path on the way.

Beyond Carn na Criche's summit, the path drops slightly, meandering a route between rocks to arrive at the foot of Sgurr Mor - the climb ahead tooks substantial !

The path begins up Sgurr Mor's north-western shoulder obvious enough, then occasionally disappears and re-appears as it encounters rocks and boulders. Higher up, after encountering a few false summits, the large cairn on Sgurr Mor's true summit appears abruptly and thereafter reached quickly.

The remainder of this extended route, the 'Fannichs Big 9', is described in reverse on the Eastern Fannichs page. A link to download the GPX of the 'Fannichs Big 9' is below on this page.